Chapter 320: Washington
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Chapter 320: Washington
March, 1756
March, 1756
George Washington, Colonel of the Virginia Militia, walked up the steps that led him into the General’s office, he noticed there were cannons stationed across the left and right walls, with burly looking Frenchmen standing next to them, no doubt serving as guards. That combined with the ditch filled with spikes outside, that he’d seen upon entering told him this would not be an easy place to take should it come to it.
The doors opened and he was led to a seat that was occupied by a large pillow in the shape of a bear. George picked it up and handed it to a servant, then sat down, immediately he regretted doing so, for the chair’s back dug into his own back. He refused to ask for the cushion though and instead remained seated. The man before him had white hair which showed under his wig, he was writing something furiously. He then handed it to a servant and then looked at George.
“Monsieur Washington.” The man, General Pierre, Governor of Fort Le Boeuf said. “Welcome to Fort Le Boeuf, I trust your journey here was pleasant.”
George bit back a snort, his journey had been anything but pleasant. He’d avoided being eaten by a bear, being captured by Indians and all sorts of other horrendous things just to get here. “It was fine, thank you.”
“Good.” The General said. “Now, I am aware of why you have come, but I wish to hear the words from you, directly.”
George cleared his throat and said. “I have come as part of a representation from His Britannic Majesty King George of the United Kingdom of Great Britannia, to formally request that your men retreat from the Ohio Country. This territory was claimed by His Britannic Majesty some years ago, and was agreed as Britannic territory during the Treaty of Bruges.”
The General didn’t react to what he’d said, instead he simply looked at George. For a moment, George wondered if the man had heard him, he was about to repeat what he had said, when the General spoke. “I understand where you are coming from, but I fear there may be some confusion on your part, Colonel.”
“Sir?” George asked.
“You see, the Ohio Country has belonged to France since time immemorial. It was claimed by us in an agreement with the Spanish and something that was subsequently recognised by King Charles II in a treaty some eighty years ago.” The General said.
“That was then, this is now.” George replied. “The realities have changed.”
“They have?” The General asked.
“Yes.” George said. “The situation that His Britannic Majesty King Charles found himself under is not the same situation as it is now. The Treaty of Bruges made that quite clear. The wording of the treaty was such that Britannia was given rights to the Ohio Country.”
“And yet, you have done nothing with those rights.” The General said. “Bruges was thirty years ago; we have moved on since then.”
“There was no new treaty.” George protested.
The General laughed. “The winner takes it all, Colonel. Unless there is some other reason for why we should vacate, we shall not be leaving here.”
George narrowed his eyes at the man and asked. “Is that a threat?”
The General laughed. “No, Colonel, it is not a threat. Merely a statement of truth.”
“Your version of the truth must be different to mine.” George said.
The General didn’t laugh then, instead he simply stared at George, before saying. “It would appear so.”
